Gophers Fall to Michigan in OT

ANN ARBOR (Gophersports.com) – A late power-play goal in overtime snapped the Gopher men's hockey team's four-game winning streak as Minnesota fell 5-4 in overtime to Michigan Friday night.
Tommy Novak led Minnesota with a goal and two assists while Tyler Sheehy, Brent Gates Jr. and Mike Szmatula also picked up goals in the series opener.

After a scoreless first period, the two teams combined for five goals in the second period with the Gophers holding a 3-2 lead through 40 minutes of play. Minnesota (7-4-0 overall, 3-2-0-0 Big Ten) jumped out in front during a brief power-play chance early in the second period when Szmatula tipped in a shot from the point for his second of the year at 1:53 of the second stanza. Rem Pitlick earned the primary assist and has now recorded a point in 10 of Minnesota’s 11 games this season. Steve Johnson was credited with the secondary assist.

The Maroon & Gold added to the lead with Novak’s goal at 5:15 from Sheehy and Jack Sadek and Sheehy’s strike at 7:51 off assists from Gates and Novak.

Michigan (8-3-0, 2-1-0-0) rebounded with three-straight goals of their own starting with Nick Pastujov’s tally at 9:14 of the second and Tony Calderone’s goal at 18:59 of the second. Dexter Dancs made it 3-3 with his goal at 3:15 of the third period.

Gates reclaimed the lead for Minnesota 33 seconds later with his fourth of the year at 3:48 off Novak’s third point of the night – his third career three point game. But Michigan again responded when Jake Slaker scored at 6:45 to eventually force overtime.

Alex Roos notched the overtime tally for the Wolverines at 3:24 after a tripping penalty put the Maroon & Gold down a man. The power-play goal snapped Minnesota’s streak of successful kills at 17.

Eric Schierhorn made 28 saves in goal for the Gophers, who were outshot 33-31.